Voting machine



E. B. WILLIX.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED use. a. 1920.

1,425, 352 Patented Aug. 8, 1922;

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. B. WILLIX.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. B'. WILLIX. VOT|NG'MACHINE. APPLICAfION FILED DEC. 6, I920- 52- I Patented Aug. 8, 1922 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Fig? 5,

E. B. WILLIX.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mac. 6, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

-II II M III II Q H II N u Lw-nm Patented Aug. 8,1922.

ENOS B. WILLIX, OF MOUNT; VERNON, IOWA.

vo'rme Mach ne.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 8, 1922,

Application filed December 6, Serial No. 428,474.

.1 0 all 10/10 172 @115 may concern r Be it known that T, Enos B. \NI LIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mt. Vernon, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in Voting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be ,a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. c

This invention relates more particularly to the mechanism of voting machines whereby a limited number ofvote-keys may be actuated, and all the rest be locked against actuation. The invention involves the looking of individual keys, as for plural or group m ndidates, and also the looking out of but one row of candidates, as in primary elections, and the locking of all but one ofiice row, as for straight-ticket voting. Vith the foregoing is included improve ments in the counting mechanism, as will fully hereinafter appear.

In practically all of the lockingtype of voting machines, the vote-key lock is a more or less complicatechhnd always expensive piece of mechanism. The extreme accuracy demanded of the moving parts, and the mechanical difficulties incident to their mounting, combine to make it, if not the most serious, one of the most serious problems involved in the manufacture of voting machines. It is the purpose of this invention to greatly simplify the construction of the look-out mechanism. and to give to the moving parts such an enlarged range of movement that" the lock may operate effectively, without the er:- quisite accuracy usually demanded, as above mentioned. This simplification also extends to the counting mechanism, which as usually found in voting machines is delicate, expensive, and sub ect to inaccuracies,

as will be hereinafter indicated.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 a front elevation showing the face of themachine at its ends, and some of the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical. section of the machine near the straight- ,ticket end, which is the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a detail of the counter. Fig. at is a fragmentary detail of a part of the lock- .out mechanism. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary,

sectional view in the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, illustrating the lockout and count ng mechanism,

and other parts, which will bev referred to later. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional v ew, in the line 66 of F ig. 2, showing the lookout mechanism, the other parts being mostly omittedl Fig. 7 shows in perspective details of a vote-indicating, or vote-selecting key, and of parts related to and to operating therewith The figure includes a partial View of the mechanism forreston mg vote-positioned keys to normal position. Fig. 8 is an elevation of a counter, as seen fromthe back of the machine. longitudinal section of the same in a vertieal plane. "The mechanism of the machine is carried mainly by a pair 'ofend castings 10,

which are closed from view by cover-plates shown as hinged at the bottomyfor a purpose which will presently appear. To the lower part of the front is attached another door 14, to give access to the lockout mechanism. The face of the machine is composed mainly of a series of vertical plates 1.5, which are punched at 16 (see Fig. 7) to receive the shanks of the keys 17, and attached dogs 18,these holes coinciding with holes in the back-plate, and disposing the keys in vertical and horizontal rows as shown. \Vhen the keys are pushed inwardly to voting position the dogs, which are notched at 18 drop by gravity, and engage the faceplate at 16, thus latching the key against the stressof the lookout mechanism, as will be explained later. An extension 18 of the dog admits of its being easily disengaged by a finger of the operator.

Behind the fixed back-plate above mentioned is mounted the key-restoringframe. This comprises upright members 19, and horizontal cross-bars 20, against whichbars the inner ends of the key-shanks abut when pushed inwardly, and shown in Fig. 2. The

upper and lower ends of the members 19 are provided with lateral studs 21,-'on each of which is mounted a pair of rollers 22. One of each pair runs in a horizontal slot 23 in the main frame, andthe others he in diagonal slots 24 of parallel bars 25 slidably mounted in bearings 26. The slide-bars connect by links 27 with cranks 28 on a rock-shaft '29 running throu h the length of the machine. By means o a hand-lever 30 the rock-shaft is turned, by the proper election officer, to replace the pushed-in keys, and so record the vote, returning it to the initial position by a reverse movement of the lever. Immediately behind this movable frame is a fixed frame carrying the counters. This consists essentially of horizontal bars 31, set a little lower than the bars of the restoring frame, and carrying the counters at their back sides. These will be described in detail hereafter. In this connection it need only be said that they are actuated by star-wheels 38 and engaging fingers, hooked at 33. The fingers are pivoted to the horizontal bars at 33 ('Fig. 7), and are provided with slotted lugs 33 to receive the tail-pieces 17 of the keys. In practice these are mere wires set firmly in the ends of the key-shanks, and are offset at 17*. lVhen a key is pushed inwardly to voting position this offset, moving through the slot, swings the finger laterally so that its hook may engage a tooth of the star-wheel. This position is maintained until, by the forward movement of the restoring frame the vote-positioned fingers have been returned to normal position, and at the same time the star-wheels, so engaged, have been advanced one step. The reverse movement of the restoring frame, as will be evident, returns the fingers to normal position.

As the keys, when pushed in, are latched by their dogs, it is of course necessary to re lease them before they can be restored to normal position. The device for this purpose is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7. It comprises a pair of end-bars 34. mounted slidably in guides 35, and provided with feet beveled at 3st. To these slide-bars are attached horizontal bars 36 whose upper ed es are normally a little lower than the bottom sides of the keys, and thus permit the dogs to drop to latchin position, shown in Fig. Raising this grid simultaneously lifts all, the engaging dogs out of engagement. This is effected in the first movement of the hand-lever, through the medium of levers 37 on the rock-shaft above mentioned, links 38, and rollers 39 engaging the inclined feet of the slide-bars, and traveling on supports 40. To permit this initial movement of the grid-lifting rollers, the links 27 are slotted at 27 as shown in Fig. 7, so that there is no movement of the restoring frame until the latched keys have all seen disengaged.

Adjacent to the face of the machine is lockout for the keys, which is adapted for use in both primary and general elections. In the former case it looks all the party rows, except the one named by the prospective voter. In the latter case it locks all the office rows, or all but the straight-ticket row, In connection with the limiting lock,

to be described hereafter, it permits the voter to vote for all proper candidates of his party at primary elections, and at general elections to vote a straight party ticket, or mixed, scratched ticket, at will.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that each key shank is provided with an upstanding stud 17, which in the normal position of the key lies just forward of a cross-bar ll. These cross-bars, of which there is one for each horizontal row of keys, are connected by end-bars as to form a single frame or grid. The grid is mounted slidably in guides 43, so as to be moved laterally along the face of the machine. For this purpose one end of it connects, as by a link l-l with a lever 45 attached to a short shaft L6. To the shaft connects a handlever. which may be moved in register with graduations on a face-plate The first of the graduations is supposed to denote the hand-lever position for straight-ticket voting; the second, for mixed voting, and subsequent graduations, for voting according to party designations, as in primary elections. Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that all of the bars of the grid are similarly notched at sil to permit the studs of all the keys to pass, as in straight-ticket, or. alternatively, in general voting. The succeeding notches, however, are arranged progressively as to party rows, from top to bottom of the machine. And it will be evident that the setting of the grid so as to open it to the movement of any row of keys, correspondingly locks out all the others, as is necessary at primary elections. This progressive arrangement of unlocking notches .is indicated by reference characters 41", 41. etc, to and including al The above described lock would not, of itself, prevent duplicate and fraudulent voting, especially at general. elections. The machine is therefore provided with a limiting lock, which will now be described.

In a suitable frame, the vertical members 48 of which are located l. etwcen the keyshanks, are mounted rollers 49. which lie between the key-shanks horizontally, or to speak more exactly, between which the key shanks lie. ()n a stud 1.7 of each key is mounted a roller 17", which in. the vote-selecting movement of the key passes between the rollers 49. Near the top of each section of the frame is secured, as by a stirrup 50 and rod 50' a ribbon or band 50 of flexible. but strong and unstretchable material, such as webbing. Normally this hangs straight down, and between the fixed rollers and the key-rollers, shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen a key is thrust inwardly, as shown in the second row from the top, the band is deflected. and of course drawn up at the lower end. If the band has a slack limited to one such movement, any key of the vertical row may be moved successively, but no two concurrently, and this maybe effected in any suit able way by simply'fastening the lower end, as well as theupper end. This simple construction would evidently serve every purpose as respects the verticalstraight-ticket row, and would be applicable to all the other keys if every otlice were always represented by a single candidate, but as this is not the case, a secondary limiting lock is provided, to which the bands of the first lock connect. This is best'shown in Fig. 6. It comprises a series of horizontally disposed rollers 51,

aroundsome of which are placed limiting bands 52, 55, 554i, which bands engage rollers in stirrups 56 of the vert1cal bands. The slack 0t is limited toone key space, that ot 53 to two'keys, and that 01 54: to three keys. The limit may be extended by simply lengtheningthe band 54;, which is shown provided with a buckle for that purpose.

The rollers of the secondary lock are best arranged as shown, there being an upper row so disposed that the rollers 55 pass centrally between pairs of rollers, and thus keep the bands 50 in accurate alignment. Preferably there should be a pair of such rollers for each intervening stirrup and roller, so as to minimize fraction. The lower row of rollers should also be in a double series, so that the limiting bands may be applied in any order and at any'part of the machine, without interfering with each other. In Fig. 2 the rollers are shown as mounted between two thin parallel plates. But the preferred construction is shown in Fig. l, where a single bar 57 is shown pro vided with studs 58 to support the rollers, and to one of each vertical pair of rollers is pivoted a plate59, which serves tohold' the band in position, but may be easily turned to one side for convenience in changing hands.

Referring to Fig. .6, it will beevident that any two. keys of the second and third row from the left,or any three keys of the three right hand vertical rows maybe pushed to voting position, but no more. It all. are used in a single vertical row the vertical band is doubly or trebly shortened, and correspondingly drawn up at the lower end it is therefore necessary that the secondary limiting lock be placed tar enough below the other to admitol the maximum of slack being taken up in any case.

Aside from economy inconstruction, one of the important advantages arising from this construction is thelargeness of movement of the parts otthe locks. It is easily possibly to provide for more than an inchottake-up for each key inthe entire machine, and itis therefore possible to build the machine, and to operate it accurately without resorting to that extreme precision commonly demanded in voting'machine looks.

The need of looking, or latching, the keys in vote selecting position will now be evident. In the plural groups the pushing in of a second key would otherwise tend to withdraw the first one, instead of leaving it in its proper voting position.

A novel counter is shown in -Figs. 3, l, S and 9. l In a suitable casing 60 is mount-ed a pair of rollers 61 and 62. At least one 0'? these, the active roller 61, should have a peripheral surface adapted to bite or cling to a ribbon 63 running between the rollers. This ribbon carries the numbers, printed in evenly spaced consecutive order. As indicated in Fig. 8 the driving roller is supposed tobe of-accurately sized steel, with a suitably milled or roughened. surface, and the idle roller of an elastic material, such rubber. The rollers are driven intermittently by a star-wheel attached to the axis of the driving roller, as hereinbe'lore described. The course of the ribbon is indicated in Fig. Qand Fig.

8. Inside the casing it is looped, and the loop carried around anoutlying cross-pin 64. directly back of which is a slot 65 in the easing, through which-the number is read. The bodyoi the ribbon runs over pins 66 and 67, and where the height of the machine is sutlic'ient. as is usually the'case, a looped, endless ribbon sinnoly'hangs straight down from these pins, and runs through a slotted little weight 68 which serves to keep it sufliciently taut and straight. In the ascending series 'ofcounters these pinsare progressively advanced a little, so that the ribbons of those above hang close to. but free irom those below. In case extra long rib bons may be required to accommodate all the numbers needed, theribbons may be passed under suitably stepped pins 69, and

thence overstirrups- 7O attached" to the hinged backhereinbefore described. In Fig.

'2 it will be seen that the stirrups are disposed progressively so that the. looped. ribbons may all be-of the same length, and may hang parallel with each other and without twisting or crossing. The ribbons should be of fine, closely woven silk or linen, and. printedwith great accuraey. l i

The operation of the machine does not greatly differ from that of machines in general'use. In general voting, however. the voter is required to announce to the proper official whether he desires to vote straight party ticket, or a mixed ticket. In the former case, the official sets the grid-look "for {the straight-ticket row; in the latter case, for all of therest of the machine. In primary elections the grid-loek is set for the announced party row, in the manner already described.

As the secondary limiting lock must be changed from time to time, according to new groupings of candidates, and otherwise, it should be located, preferably, near the front Cir ot' the machine, and to give ready access to it the front of the machine is provided with a hinged door, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a voting machine having vote-keys slidable to voting position, with projections on their shanks, a series of lock-bars slid able normally behind said projections, and notched to permit the movement of a row of straight-ticket keys while all the other keys are locked.

2. In a voting machine having slidable vote-keys with projections on their shanks, a series of lock-bars normally slidable behind said projections, and notched to permit the movement of all the keys except the straightticket keys.

3. In a voting machine having slidable vote-keys with lock-engaging projections, a series of lock-bars normally slidable behind said projections, and notched progressively from party row to party row, whereby all the keys of any predetermined party row may be actuated, while all the other keys are locked.

I. In a voting machine having slidable vote-keys arranged in horizontal and vertical rows, and provided with lock-engaging means, a series of simultaneously movable lock-bars to intercept the keys, said bars being apertured to permit, respectively, the ac tuation of all straight-ticket keys while all others are locked; of all keys except straightticket keys; and of all keys in a party row, according as the lock-bars are moved to p0- sition for such designated operations.

5. In a voting machine having slidable vote-keys arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, and provided with lock-engaging means, a locking grid normally slidable behind said engaglng means, and adapted, successively, to release the straightticket row; all other keys; and finally in regular order, the party rows; a lever, and a connection of said lever with said grid.

6. In a voting machine having band-engaging keys disposed in vertical and horizontal rows, intercepting, flexible, depend ing bands, and a secondary, limiting lock, comprising horizontal rows of rollers disposed laterally to the depending bands, and slack, flexible bands disposed between the upper and lower rows of rollers and engaging the ends of the depending bands, the upper rollers serving. to deflect, and the lower row to limit the movement of the bands retained thereby.

7. In a voting machine having pulling means connection with the vote-keys, a limiting lock, comprising double horizontal rows of rollers, an upper and a lower pair for each of said pulling means, and flexible, slack bands embracing lower rollers and engaging the pulling means, the aggregate slack corresponding to the take-up of the keys controlled by the respective bands.

8. In a voting machine, a key-pull limit ing lock, comprising a bar, rows of studs attached thereto, rollers mounted on said studs, pivoted bridge-plates to retain the rollers, and flexible slack bands adapted to embrace pairs or groups thereof.

9. In a voting machine, a key-pull limiting lock, comprising a bar, rows of studs attached thereto, rollers mounted on said studs, and flexible slack bands adapted to embrace pairs or groups of said rollers, with means for adjusting the slack according to the requirements of single or plural candidate voting.

10. In a voting machine having sliding keys and dogs to latch them in voting position, a slidable frame adapted to simultaneously release said dogs, lifting means therefor, a restoring frame, means to actuate the same, and a slip-connection between the restoring means and the lifting frame, whereby said frame may lift prior to the movement of the restoring frame.

11. In a voting machine, and in combination with keys provided with gravity dogs to latch them in voting position, a grid-'lraair adapted to simultaneously engage and lift said dogs, cam-feet for said frame, rollers engageable therewith, a key-restoring lrrmc. levers to actuate the same, and a slip-link connection of said levers and said rollers, whereby the lift of the grid-frame precedes the movement of the restoring frame.

12. In a voting machine having counteractuating mechanism, substantially as described, a vertical row of counters, each having a pair of rollers, a consecutively numbered ribbon running between them, and means to hold the ribbon out of entangling contact with an. adjacent overlapping ribbon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ENOS B. \VILLIX.

Witnesses: C. E. LEIGH,

Aueosra NAILEN. 

